Stereotactic device for primate brains

Abstract

A stereotactic device for primate brains indicates a brain coordinate reference point of a primate using a simulator for indicating a brain coordinate reference point, thereby providing an initial setting to a zero point corresponding to the brain coordinate reference point. The brain coordinate reference point is conveniently and accurately indicated without relatively expensive equipment, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, to determine brain coordinates of the primate, so that a targeting procedure can be conducted on the brain.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A stereotactic device used for brain experiments on primates, comprising:
 a main frame; 
 a pair of ear bars provided on the main frame such that the ear bars are spaced apart from each other in X-axis direction, the pair of ear bars being configured to be inserted into ears of a primate to fix a head of the primate; 
 a movable body disposed movable relative to the main frame; 
 a carrier body connected to the movable body to move integrally with the movable body, and comprising a laser projector projecting a laser line beam, in a shape of a straight line, along a Y axis extending perpendicular to an X axis; 
 a carriage module connected to the main frame to move the movable body in the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction; and 
 a reference point simulator separably inserted into the main frame to indicate a brain coordinate reference point of the primate, located at a center of an imaginary straight line connecting the pair of ear bars, 
 wherein a position of the movable body is initially set to a zero point corresponding to the brain coordinate reference point, using the laser line beam generated by the laser projector and the brain coordinate reference point indicated by the reference point simulator. 
 
     
     
       2. The stereotactic device according to  claim 1 , wherein a zero position of the movable body in the X-axis direction is initially set by moving the movable body using the carriage module such that the laser line beam passes through the brain coordinate reference point. 
     
     
       3. The stereotactic device according to  claim 2 , wherein an engagement recess is provided in the movable body, and an engagement protrusion is fixedly provided on the main frame to be inserted into and engaged with the engagement recess,
 wherein, when the engagement recess and the engagement protrusion are engaged with each other, the engagement recess and the engagement protrusion are disposed in positions in which a zero position of the movable body in the Y-axis direction and the Z axis-direction are initially set, and 
 the zero position of the movable body in the Y-axis direction and the Z axis-direction is initially set by moving the movable body using the carriage module such that the engagement recess and the engagement protrusion are engaged with each other. 
 
     
     
       4. The stereotactic device according to  claim 3 , wherein one of the pair of ear bars acts as the engagement protrusion. 
     
     
       5. The stereotactic device according to  claim 4 , wherein the movable body comprises a movable base, a portion of which is coupled to the carriage module, and an arc portion extending from the movable base to provide an arc section, and the engagement recess is provided in the portion of the movable base. 
     
     
       6. The stereotactic device according to  claim 5 , wherein the carrier body is movably coupled to the arc portion of the movable body. 
     
     
       7. The stereotactic device according to  claim 6 , wherein a device holder is replaceably coupled to the carrier body, and is configured to hold a brain surgery device. 
     
     
       8. The stereotactic device according to  claim 7 , wherein the carrier body has a through-hole, and the device holder is replaceably fitted into the through-hole. 
     
     
       9. The stereotactic device according to  claim 8 , wherein the device holder is made of an elastic material. 
     
     
       10. The stereotactic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the reference point simulator comprises:
 a slide block coupled to the main frame to be slidable in the Y-axis direction; 
 a simulator baseplate coupled to the slide block; and 
 a reference point indicator provided on the simulator baseplate, 
 wherein the reference point indicator is provided at a position corresponding to the brain coordinate reference point in a position in which the slide block is slide-fitted to the main frame. 
 
     
     
       11. The stereotactic device according to  claim 10 , wherein the reference point indicator has a pointed top portion protruding from the simulator baseplate. 
     
     
       12. The stereotactic device according to  claim 11 , wherein, in the position in which the slide block is slide-fitted to the main frame, the reference point indicator is located on a straight line extending in the Y-axis direction to pass through the center of the imaginary straight line connecting the pair of ear bars, with the pointed top portion thereof being located on an XY plane. 
     
     
       13. The stereotactic device according to  claim 1 , wherein an ear bar adaptor configured to be fixedly inserted into the ears of the primate is detachably coupled to the pair of ear bars. 
     
     
       14. The stereotactic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the ear bar adaptor comprises;
 a base shaft elongated in a predetermined direction; 
 two guide rods coupled to the base shaft to be linearly movable in an axial direction; 
 fixing means for fixing positions of the guide rods; and 
 ear insertion bodies provided on predetermined ends of the guide rods, respectively, to face each other. 
 
     
     
       15. The stereotactic device according to  claim 14 , wherein the ear insertion bodies have coupling recesses in predetermined ends thereof facing each other, the coupling recesses being configured to be fitted around the ear bars.